Murphys injured in car crash

Shane Murphy, the first mate who survived a recent Somali pirate attack, was injured in a car crash yesterday, causing him to miss an appearance at Massachusetts Maritime Academy today.

GEORGE BRENNAN

BUZZARDS BAY — Shane Murphy, the first mate who survived a recent Somali pirate attack, was injured in a car crash yesterday, causing him to miss an appearance at Massachusetts Maritime Academy today.

Shane, 34, and his wife, Serena, 31, were returning to their home in Seekonk from Boston yesterday afternoon when the crash occurred, said his father, Capt. Joseph Murphy. The couple had spent the night in Boston after attending Sunday night's Red Sox-Yankees game, he said.

The couple has two sons, ages 3 and 8 months, who were not with them.

Serena Murphy had called her father-in-law to let him know about the accident, but was shaken up and crying, the elder Murphy said.

He did not believe their injuries to be serious but thought the couple might be hospitalized overnight.

"They're OK. We're trying to figure out what to do with the kids," he said, adding, "I think it's just an emergency room thing."

A short time later, Massachusetts Maritime Academy spokesman Chris Ryan said Serena Murphy had been released from the hospital. He had no other details of the accident.

Murphy, a 2001 graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, was supposed to be honored at this morning's formation at the school, Ryan said. That event has been postponed.

In a story that gripped the nation earlier this month, the younger Murphy was the second in command on the Maersk Alabama when it was attacked by Somali pirates.

The ship's captain, Capt. Richard Phillips, another Massachusetts Maritime alum, was taken hostage for five days before Navy SEALs rescued him on Easter Sunday from the Somali captors.